GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 20th Aug: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Thursday called on southern states to resolve long-pending inter-state water disputes through dialogue and cooperation while chairing the 31st Southern Zonal Council meeting in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu.
The meeting was attended by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Karnataka Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar, Kerala Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan, Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu, Puducherry Lieutenant Governor K. Kailashnathan, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Lieutenant Governor Admiral (Retd.) D. K. Joshi, Lakshadweep Administrator Praful Patel, besides senior officials from the Centre and participating states.
Addressing the gathering, Shah said South India remains a major contributor to the country’s development in sectors such as information technology, automobiles, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, research, artificial intelligence and agriculture. He said the region’s progress is built on high literacy, skilled manpower and expertise in deep-sea resources, while stressing that water remains the foundation of its future growth.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day address, Shah said the country must achieve in the next five to seven years what could not be accomplished over the past several decades to strengthen India’s global standing.
The Home Minister urged the Ministry of Jal Shakti, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Inter-State Council and the concerned states to hold joint meetings for the early resolution of pending water-sharing issues. He said the participating states agreed to pursue dialogue and adopt a positive approach to settle disputes at the earliest.
Shah also said Andhra Pradesh and Telangana agreed to resolve pending issues related to the division of assets and liabilities in consultation with the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Highlighting the need for long-term water security, Shah advocated interlinking major rivers, including the Brahmaputra, Godavari and Cauvery, stating that such connectivity could help ensure adequate water availability for the country over the next century while also expanding inland waterways and reducing transportation costs.
Reviewing the performance of the Zonal Councils, Shah said the Modi government had transformed them into an effective platform for cooperative federalism. He noted that 70 Zonal Council meetings had been held since 2014, during which nearly 80 per cent of the 1,869 issues raised were resolved, including several matters pending for decades.
The Home Minister also stressed the need for the speedy investigation and disposal of crimes against women and children through Fast Track Special Courts, particularly in rape and POCSO cases.
He called for greater efforts to tackle malnutrition, stunting and school dropouts, saying reducing the national school dropout rate below three per cent would help strengthen India’s future workforce and ensure inclusive development.
On narcotics, Shah said the Ministry of Home Affairs had prepared a three-year roadmap for a drug-free India and urged all state governments and departments to work together to eliminate the menace and protect future generations.
The Southern Zonal Council meeting concluded with discussions on enhancing regional cooperation and accelerating the resolution of development and governance issues through consensus and coordinated action.
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